In this paper, the funding and production of general program projects in atmospheric science field funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) from 1986 to 2006 were analyzed statistically, by use of the quantitative data of historical applications and the sum-up reports from the electronic query system on project archives, developed by NSFC. The results show the variation of funding strength in the past twenty years, the relationship between the funding devotion and the production, as well as the role of scientific foundation in preserving scientific and technological talents. It is also a summary of the funding situations in the atmospheric science field. 